Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for providing data in a pre-determined format with minimal impact from an aircraft to an interested entity are disclosed. One system includes a data processing system configured to store executable code to receive data, wherein the data is otherwise unavailable to the interested entity via pre-existing technology, determine, in real-time, one or more first devices on the aircraft where the data is stored in a format that is non-compliant with the pre-determined format and/or one or more second devices on the aircraft where the data can be generated in the format that is non-compliant with the pre-determined format, and retrieve the data in the format that is non-compliant with the pre-determined format from the at least one of the one or more first devices and the one or more second devices. Apparatus and methods that include and/or perform the operations of the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A real-time adaptive speed scheduler that optimizes the control of an aircraft's speed and speed mode through the introduction of an advisory providing an optimized speed schedule for improved fuel efficiency and aircraft predictability. This system can also be deployed to improve flight efficiency and aircraft predictability in situations where time needs to be gained or lost, or air traffic needs to be sequenced. The real-time adaptive speed scheduler disclosed herein provides a datalink solution for loading directly into an aircraft's flight management system, for operation and display on a mobile device, as an advisory to an air traffic controller for instruction to the aircraft as a voice command, any authorized subscriber, and/or as an advisory to a dispatcher at an airline operations center.

Abstract: An adaptive weather interrogation system capable of determining whether currently available weather for a particular trajectory or portion thereof, a particular volume of space or geospatial point meets subscriber operations and requirements. More specifically, the system provides the capability to determine the “best” weather information by evaluating the weather data and associated weather quality, accuracy or confidence attribute values against subscriber operations and requirements. If the weather data, quality, accuracy, and confidence do not meet the subscriber's requirements, the system is capable of interrogating weather data sources for additional or updated weather data to meet the subscriber's needs.

Abstract: A computer-based communications management system for managing multiple requests made by different users, in abstract or generalized formats, for data to be provided by various systems of interest. This computerized system is programmed to perform operations which ensure that requests from different users do not interfere with each other and that all information requested from the systems of interest is retrieved without missing or additional (i.e., not requested) information. Additionally, the system accommodates the functional differences between various systems of interest, and also uses relevant related data from other systems of interest to achieve greater data usefulness.

Abstract: A tailored arrival allocation system (TAAS) for determining a descent profile for an aircraft is described. TAAS includes a gateway operable for establishing communications between TAAS and aircraft, and for establishing communications between TAAS and at least one of a source of weather data, an air traffic services facility, and an airlines operations center. A processing device communicatively coupled to the gateway calculates a descent profile based on data received from a plurality of an air traffic services coordination function, an airline operations center function, data from the aircraft, and data received from a weather station that allows the aircraft to meet the required time at one or more metering fixes during the descent. Output interfaces provide data relating to the calculated descent profile to the processing device. The gateway communicates with a flight management computer for the aircraft to incorporate the calculated descent profile onto the flight management computer.

Abstract: An adaptive weather interrogation system capable of determining whether currently available weather for a particular trajectory or portion thereof, a particular volume of space or geospatial point meets subscriber operations and requirements. More specifically, the system provides the capability to determine the “best” weather information by evaluating the weather data and associated weather quality, accuracy or confidence attribute values against subscriber operations and requirements. If the weather data, quality, accuracy, and confidence do not meet the subscriber's requirements, the system is capable of interrogating weather data sources for additional or updated weather data to meet the subscriber's needs.

Abstract: A real-time adaptive speed scheduler that optimizes the control of an aircraft's speed and speed mode through the introduction of an advisory providing an optimized speed schedule for improved fuel efficiency and aircraft predictability. This system can also be deployed to improve flight efficiency and aircraft predictability in situations where time needs to be gained or lost, or air traffic needs to be sequenced. The real-time adaptive speed scheduler disclosed herein provides a datalink solution for loading directly into an aircraft's flight management system, for operation and display on a mobile device, as an advisory to an air traffic controller for instruction to the aircraft as a voice command, any authorized subscriber, and/or as an advisory to a dispatcher at an airline operations center.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for generating trajectory predictions for a flight comprising a flight object manager and a trajectory predictor. The flight object manager is configured to generate flight information using a number of flight plans, a number of flight schedules, and flight status information. The trajectory predictor is configured to receive flight information from the flight object manager and use the flight information to generate the trajectory predictions.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for generating an integrated aircraft clearance. Flight information, preference information, environmental information, and constraints are retrieved from a number of sources. The flight information includes at least one of flight plan information, flight scheduling information, flight status information, and environmental information. The flight information is processed against the preference information, the environmental information, and the constraints. A clearance solution is generated for an aircraft based on the flight information, the preference information, the environmental information and the constraints.

Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time efficiency and aircraft performance monitoring and delta efficiency calculations between various user- or system-selected phases of flight by determining an efficiency messaging index that gets translated into a messaging profile. That messaging profile is then used to obtain necessary flight and other information from multiple sources. The efficiency calculations and deltas can be used to determine real-time or post-processed benefits, which can then be used to optimize flight(s). Additionally, data is post-processed, which allows the calculation, storage and subsequent usage of efficiency coefficients to enhance the accuracy of the efficiency calculations. There are a number of ways to implement the architecture and order of processing.

Abstract: A method of determining environmental data along a trajectory of an aircraft may assist in the evaluation of flight conditions along the trajectory. Environmental data may be at least one of collected, derived, and fused from a plurality of weather sources using at least one processor. The environmental data may be filtered, extrapolated, and fused, using the at least one processor, within at least one selected volume of airspace over a trajectory of the aircraft based on selected weather-applicability time intervals, and on at least one of user-selected parameters and weighted environmental data criteria. The trajectory may comprise at least one of a planned trajectory, a current trajectory, and an intent trajectory of the aircraft. An effect of the filtered, extrapolated, and fused environmental data on the trajectory may be determined using the at least one processor.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for generating trajectory predictions for a flight comprising a flight object manager and a trajectory predictor. The flight object manager is configured to generate flight information using a number of flight plans, a number of flight schedules, and flight status information. The trajectory predictor is configured to receive flight information from the flight object manager and use the flight information to generate the trajectory predictions.

Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for generating an integrated aircraft clearance. Flight information, preference information, environmental information, and constraints are retrieved from a number of sources. The flight information includes at least one of flight plan information, flight scheduling information, flight status information, and environmental information. The flight information is processed against the preference information, the environmental information, and the constraints. A clearance solution is generated for an aircraft based on the flight information, the preference information, the environmental information and the constraints.

Abstract: A tailored arrival allocation system (TAAS) for determining a descent profile for an aircraft is described. TAAS includes a gateway operable for establishing communications between TAAS and aircraft, and for establishing communications between TAAS and at least one of a source of weather data, an air traffic services facility, and an airlines operations center. A processing device communicatively coupled to the gateway calculates a descent profile based on data received from a plurality of an air traffic services coordination function, an airline operations center function, data from the aircraft, and data received from a weather station that allows the aircraft to meet the required time at one or more metering fixes during the descent. Output interfaces provide data relating to the calculated descent profile to the processing device. The gateway communicates with a flight management computer for the aircraft to incorporate the calculated descent profile onto the flight management computer.